Smoke alarms
Privately let residential properties are required by law to be fitted with a smoke alarm on each and every floor that contains a room used as living accommodation. Living accommodation includes living rooms and kitchens, as well as bathrooms and toilets. The Regulations do not state the type of alarm that should be fitted. It is recommended, however, that tamper-proof alarms with a 10-year battery life are installed.
Carbon monoxide alarms
Rooms that are used as living accommodation and contain solid fuel burning appliances are also required to be fitted with a carbon monoxide alarm. Solid fuel burning appliances include log and coal burning stoves and open fires. The Regulations do not require carbon monoxide alarms to be fitted in rooms containing oil and gas fired appliances, although it is good practice to do so.
Exemptions
Some types of properties are exempt from the requirement to fit alarms. Those exempt properties are listed in the Regulations.
Regular checks
Landlords of residential properties covered by the Regulations are required to check that fitted alarms are in working order at the start of any new tenancy.
The penalties for non-compliance with the requirement to provide and check smoke and carbon monoxide alarms can be found in our Statement of Principles [PDF, 75Kb].